Casa Tumán by Studio Selva Features Communal Deck Overlooking Ocean

Designers Alondra Paz Vargas and Johnan Selbing run the incredible office of the young and talented architecture firm Studio Selva. Formerly known as Johnan Selbing Architecture, the studio is based in Amsterdam and has experience in working with a wide range of design projects and scales, including not only house designs and urban furniture but also bridges and villa’s.

The studio is known for dealing with sustainability, material experiments, contextual analysis and involvement in each project. Recently they designed a unique holiday homelocated in the coastal region of Chile, named Casa Tumán, on which mostly locally sourced materials were used.

The 50m2 architecture project was laid out in 6 different divisions including four bedrooms, one bathroom and one kitchen. The tailor-made private villa contains a similar design concept as traditional Chilean farmhouse due to its layout and materialization.

Each bedroom has an independent access to a roofed terrace, that was designed as a shared common space. The living room overlooks striking views of the sea.

The kitchen features built-in bench seating and is located next to the bathroomat the centre of the building, with the bedrooms at either end.

The house can also be rented to surfers and tourists that are drawn to the coastal area. This decision influenced the design of a building with a linear and modular layout and direct access to a large covered terrace.

Storage areas for surfboards and equipment are positioned to the front of the house, along with an outdoor shower. To the rear is the large decked terrace, which provides views towards the ocean.

Studio Selva also included sustainable building materials and techniques such as straw baled walls that are covered with clay render. This approach allows excellent insulation to the building, since the materials are able to absorb moisture rising from the Pacific ocean, helping to naturally regulate the building’s internal temperature.